1 So met they once again, the king and Aman, over the queen’s wine. 2 And once again, his heart warmed by drinking, Assuerus would know what Esther’s mind might be; what was it she would have? Half of his kingdom should be hers for the asking. 3 My lord king, she said, if this is indeed thy gracious pleasure, one gift I would ask, my life; one boon, the preservation of my people. 4 Must we be crushed to nothing, I and my people; must we perish by massacre? To that we are doomed. If we were only marked down for slaves and bondwomen, our lot should be bravely borne; I would have nursed my grief in silence. But here is an enemy whose cruel designs concern the king’s grace. 5 Who is this man? Assuerus asked. Where is the insolence to be found that would make such an attempt as this? 6 One enemy we have, said Esther, one schemer’s malice we fear, and he is here in thy presence; Aman.

Upon hearing this, Aman was struck dumb, and could look neither king nor queen in the eyes. 7 The king rose angrily from his place, left the banqueting-room, and went out to walk in the garden, among his trees. With that, Aman rose too, intent on winning his pardon from queen Esther; doubt he might not that the king was bent on his undoing. 8 Thus minded, he fell sprawling across the couch on which Esther lay; and so the king found him, when he returned from garden to banqueting-room. What, cried he, will he ravish the queen before my eyes, and in my own house? And before the words were out of his mouth Aman was gagged and blindfold.

9 And now Harbona, one of the chamberlains in attendance on the king’s person, came forward; What of the gallows, said he, fifty cubits high, that stands there by Aman’s house, ready for Mardochaeus, that saved the king’s life?[1] Let Aman himself hang on it, said the king. 10 So Aman was hanged on the gallows he had raised for Mardochaeus; and with that, the king’s angry mood was appeased.